FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, July 31, 2017

CONTACT: Tony Mangan, Public Information Officer, 605-280-5648

Names Released In Jerauld County Fatal Crash

What:      Two Vehicle Crash

Where:    S.D. Highway 34, mile marker 305

                 Eight miles west of Wessington Springs, S.D.,

When:     11:40 a.m., July 27, 2017

Driver No. 1:  Donald Wetzel, 75, Wessington Springs, S.D., Fatal Injuries

Passenger: Matthew Wetzel, 30, Wessington, Springs, S.D., Fatal Injuries

Vehicle: 2016 Ford F-350 Pickup

Driver No. 2: Scott Wenzel, 52, Wessington Springs, S.D., Life-Threatening Injuries

Vehicle: 2005 International 8000 Truck

WESSINGTON SPRINGS, S.D. – Three Wessington Springs men have been identified as those involved in a two-vehicle crash that killed two people and seriously injured the other Thursday morning west of Wessington Springs.

They were the only people involved.

A 2006 Ford F-350 pickup was eastbound on South Dakota Highway 34 when it crossed the center line and collided with a westbound 2005 International 8000 truck. The pickup entered the south ditch and started on fire. Donald Wetzel, 75, the driver, and Matthew Wetzel, 30, the passenger, both were pronounced dead at the scene.

Scott Wenzel, 52, was the driver of the International truck. He suffered life-threatening injuries. He was transported to a Wessington Springs hospital and later airlifted to a Sioux Falls hospital.

The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. Other agencies on scene were the Jerauld County Sheriff’s Office, Sanborn County Sheriff’s Office, Wessington Springs Ambulance, Wessington Springs Fire Department and Highway Patrol Motor Carrier Service.

The Highway Patrol is part of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.

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Note: The different spellings of the last names are correct.

Records of state-reportable crashes are now available at http://www.safesd.gov/. Records should be available about 10 days after the investigation is complete.